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Morrisey: ‘Backyard Brawl’ economic development plan will focus on energy infrastructure in WV • West Virginia Watch

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Morrisey: ‘Backyard Brawl’ economic development plan will focus on energy infrastructure in WV • West Virginia Watch


West Virginia will see a renewed focus on economic development and competition with surrounding states through initiatives set to be taken on under Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

Morrisey addressed the press on Thursday, discussing what he has for several months dubbed the “Backyard Brawl” for regional economic development, referring to a football term used for local rivalries. 

“I think that the reason I’ve talked about that for a long time is that I’m a believer in the power of competition,”  Morrisey said. “That if you start to look at what your state is doing in the economic arena and you compare it to all the states that you touch, you start to have barometers of where you stand and how you can be better at what you do.”

The focus of the effort is going to hinge strongly on developing energy infrastructure and, through that, competition with surrounding states as well as other general metrics for business and economic growth, Morrisey said.

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“We know that for West Virginia to unleash its true potential, we have to be an energy powerhouse, and that means taking advantage of all of our energy resources,” Morrisey said.

Todd Johnston, who was named earlier this month to serve as Morrisey’s deputy chief of staff, will be a crucial lead for the new “Backyard Brawl” initiative. Johnston comes to West Virginia with a background in energy, natural resource and infrastructure policies as well as regulatory compliance issues. He previously served as a vice president of ConservAmerica, a conservative-leaning nonprofit focused on “market-based solutions” to promote environmental conservation alongside economic development.

Johnston will work as the director of West Virginia’s new “energy, infrastructure, and competitiveness” program, Morrisey announced. In that position, he will coordinate with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation as well as commerce and economic development representatives across the state.

Specifically, Morrisey said, the new efforts will key in on improving “fundamentals” across the state that he believes will drive economic growth and development. 

As it is early in the process, not many specifics were outlined Thursday for what projects or initiatives may be undertaken for this work. Morrisey did say he would like to see efforts as soon as possible to accelerate permit application approvals, which can delay the start and completion of certain projects.

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The policies Morrisey said he wants to see advanced are similar to ones stressed by former Gov. Jim Justice who, since earlier this month, is serving in the U.S. Senate. Justice regularly described himself as a pro-business governor and, as the operator of several coal mines, lamented national policies that he felt undercut West Virginia’s energy and economic potential.

West Virginia still ranks low nationally in several metrics for private business successes, Morrisey said. The state is ranked 40th in CNBC’s 2024 top states for business and 49th in Forbes’ best states for business report. While Forbes listed West Virginia as 13th nationally for business costs, the state ranked 50th for labor supply, the regulatory environment and potential growth prospects, Morrisey pointed out.

“We were near the bottom in a lot of different categories. I want to change that,” Morrisey said. “West Virginians deserve to have that change so we can start to really rise in the economic rankings.”

When asked how his approach to economic and energy development would differ from Justice’s despite sharing similar strategies and goals, Morrisey said he wasn’t interested in looking at the past.

“I think the important thing is we’re not gonna look back. We’re going to build on strengths and there’s been some positive things [like Roads to Prosperity],” Morrisey said. “I want to level-set with people about where we are, what we’re inheriting and how we have to go forward. I think you’re going to see a level of vigor, you’re gonna see a level of dedication focused on competition that the state has never seen before.”

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West Virginia

West Virginia man accused of threatening Trump, ICE agents indicted

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West Virginia man accused of threatening Trump, ICE agents indicted


A West Virginia man accused of threatening to attack President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement workers was federally indicted this week.

Cody Lee Smith, 20, of Clarksburg was indicted on two counts of threats to murder the president, one count of influencing and retaliating against federal officials by threat of murder and one count of influencing a federal official by threat of murder, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Smith is accused of making a series of public posts on Instagram encouraging and threatening the murder of Trump, those who support him, Israelis and “all government officials,” the news release said.

The indictment also alleges that Smith sent a direct message via Instagram to Donald J. Trump, Jr., stating he would kill his father by cutting his “jugular.”

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In a phone call with the ICE tip line, Smith also threatened to kill ICE agents in Clarksburg and employees staffing the tip line.

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Smith faces up to 5 years for each of the presidential threat charges and faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts.



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West Virginia falls flat in 65-63 loss to Kansas State – WV MetroNews

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West Virginia falls flat in 65-63 loss to Kansas State – WV MetroNews


West Virginia has said the right things about the need to capitalize on opportunities.

The Mountaineers aren’t following through when they come about.

The latest example came Tuesday night at Kansas State, which scored 21 unanswered points in the second half before holding off a furious West Virginia charge for a 65-53 victory at Bramlage Coliseum.

“The level of urgency and desire to win a game with so much on it wasn’t where it needed to be,” West Virginia head coach Ross Hodge said on postgame radio.

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The Wildcats (12-18, 3-14) played without leading scorer PJ Haggerty, a surprise scratch with an undisclosed injury.

Although WVU (17-13, 8-9) defeated Kansas State 59-54 with Haggerty in the lineup during a January matchup in Morgantown, the Mountaineers were unable to capitalize on his absence in the rematch and fell to 1-4 in their last five games.

Both teams were dismal offensively in the opening half, which ended with West Virginia leading, 26-23.

The Mountaineers got 10 points apiece from reserve forwards Chance Moore and DJ Thomas, helping the visitors to at least somewhat overcome a starting lineup that scored six points on 3-for-15 shooting over the first 20 minutes.

“When you’re playing a team that is a little down and out, you can’t give them life and can’t give them hope,” Hodge said. “We had so many opportunities in the first half and at the beginning of the game to make some plays and entice a team that’s been struggling to maybe keep struggling.”

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After a scoreless first half, WVU guard Honor Huff made his 100th three-pointer this season with 18:33 to play, allowing the Mountaineers to lead 31-27.

West Virginia went the next 8-plus minutes without a point, and Wildcats took control during that stretch.

Khamari McGriff scored the Wildcats’ first four points of the extended 21-0 spurt and accounted for four buckets and eight of the first 15 points during that time.

A jumper from CJ Jones with 10:53 remaining left the home team with a 48-31 advantage, before Thomas scored from close range to end his team’s extended drought at the 10:27 mark.

“I’m aware of our shortcomings and I understand when you’re deficient in some areas, your margin for error to win is razor thin,” Hodge said. “I’m disappointed with what was at stake, we got beat to loose balls. Would it have been nice to make more layups and threes? Of course. But when those things aren’t happening, you better do those other things.”

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KSU had separate 19-point leads, the latter of which came at 57-38 when McGriff made two free throws with 7:29 to play.

WVU then increased its aggressiveness offensively and reeled off the next 11 points, while the Wildcats began to play tentative while in possession.

A three-pointer from K-State’s Nate Johnson left the Wildcats with a 60-49 lead with 3:48 left, but the Mountaineers continued to battle and trailed by six when Chance Moore scored in the paint at the 1:24 mark.

Moore’s next basket made it a five-point game, and after a Johnson turnover, Huff made two free throws to bring WVU to within 61-58 with 48 seconds left.

Another KSU turnover gave the visitors the ball back, but after Moore missed a shot that the Mountaineers rebounded, Huff committed a costly turnover. 

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Johnson made two free throws with 17 seconds left, and McGriff added two more with 7 seconds remaining before Huff made a trey at the buzzer.

Moore led WVU with 18 points and made 6-of-7 shots, but again struggled on free throws, finishing 5 for 9. WVU hurts its cause at the charity stripe and made only 9-of-16 attempts.

Brenen Lorient was the Mountaineers’ second-leading scorer with 14 second-half points, while Thomas followed with 12 and Huff added 11 on 3-for-11 shooting.

Treysen Eaglestaff led all players with 11 rebounds in defeat, but made only 3-of-12 shots in a six-point showing.

McGriff led KSU with 18 points and added seven rebounds.

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Johnson finished with 16 points and nine boards.

WVU had nine of its 13 turnovers in the second half. 

“Nine turnovers in the second half creates more busted floors, more cross match opportunities and through that, it makes you vulnerable for paint touch opportunities,” Hodge said. 

K-State played under the guidance of interim head coach Matthew Driscoll. Driscoll replaced Jerome Tang, who was fired in between the team’s first and second matchups with West Virginia this season.

“Sometimes in life you get what you deserve,” Hodge said, “and we deserved to lose tonight.”

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Nitro completes utility deal with West Virginia American Water – WV MetroNews

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Nitro completes utility deal with West Virginia American Water – WV MetroNews


NITRO, W.Va. — It’s a done deal.

Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt signed an agreement Tuesday with West Virginia American Water Company President Scott Wyman completing the sale of the Nitro Regional Wastewater Utility including the sewer plant for $20 million.

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The water utility will now own and operate the city’s water and wastewater systems. The state Public Service Commission recently approved the deal.

Casebolt said it’s good to get the long-talked-about agreement signed. He said the city can’t afford to make the improvements required at the sewer plant.

“We’re looking at needing between 40 and 50 million dollars of upgrades to our system and expecting our four-thousand customer base to try to offset those costs is not even practical,” Casebolt said.

Casebolt said sewer bills are going to go up but he said they were going to go up regardless. He said the city was facing increasing rates by as much as 50 percent.

West Virgina American is planning $42 million in upgrades to the sewer system over the next five years, Casebolt said.

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“It’s a much-need investment and actually allow the system to handle rainwater much better where it’s not backing up into people’s homes,” Casebolt said.



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